Brazil’s president speaks out about racism in the country

Dilma Rousseff has publicly condemned two incidents in which Brazilian players were racially abused.

Rousseff said that Brazilian football had been "stained" by these events and described the crime as "inadmissible" in the country due to the host the World Cup this year.

Santos midfielder Arouca made headlines after being the target of monkey chants during a game at Migi Mirim in the São Paulo state championship.

The Mogi Mirim stadium has been handed a ban until an investigation into the incident and any subsequent disciplinary process is concluded.

Arouca, meanwhile, described the incident as “unacceptable,” emphasizing that there was “no place” in football for racism.

In a second incident, referee Márcio Chagas reported he had been subject to a racist attack following a game in the country`s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul.

“Márcio and Arouca have all my solidarity, and that of all Brazilians. It is inadmissible that Brazil, the biggest black nation outside Africa, should live with scenes of racism,” said Rousseff via her official Twitter account.

“Let`s stand up to racism! I have agreed with the UN and FIFA that our #WorldCupofWorldCups will also be a #Cup for Peace and a #CupAgainstRacism,” she concluded.